Abstract: Disclosed are tetraphenyl porphyrins which are beta-substituted by fluoro or chloro and/or bear electronegative substituents on the phenyl including one or two water solubilizing substituents. The new porphorins are particularly suitable as catalysts in a variety of oxidative reactions and methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are tetraphenyl porphyrins which are beta-substituted by fluoro or chloro and/or bear electronegative substituents on the phenyl including one or two water solubilizing substituents. The new porphorins are particularly suitable as catalysts in a variety of oxidative reactions and methods.

Abstract: Novel lignin-degrading enzymes designated rLDM.TM.1, rLDM.TM.2, rLDM.TM.3, rLDM.TM.4, rLDM.TM.5, and rLDM.TM.6 are isolated and purified to the essentially pure form, wherein each rLDM.TM. is substantially free of other rLDM.TM. and native proteins, from the extracellular medium of a novel mutant microbe. The novel mutant, designated SC26, produces large amounts of the rLDM.TM., thus facilitating the isolation and purification of them. These rLDM.TM. are useful in pulping processes to degrade and/or modify lignin.

Abstract: A process of treating effluent from a pulp or paper-making operation to decolorize the effluent is provided in which a white-rot fungus is germinated and grown and is then induced into a secondary metabolic state. The white-rot fungus is then immersed in the effluent where the fungus' active ligninolytic system decolorizes the effluent. The rate of fungal activity and the active lifetime of the fungus is increased by the addition to the effluent of at least one member of the class consisting of nutrient nitrogen, nutrient minerals, and a detergent.

Abstract: A process of degrading chloro-organics contained in liquid waste or effluent utilizes a white-rot fungus as the active ingredient in the chloro-organic degradation. The white-rot fungus is grown in the presence of certain nutrients including nutrient nitrogen and is then caused to enter a secondary metabolic state through nitrogen starvation. The fungus is then immersed in the liquid containing chloro-organics for a time period sufficient for the fungus to degrade the chloro-organics. At least periodically during the degradation period, the fungus is exposed to an oxygen enriched atmosphere. The efficacy and active lifetime of the fungus may be increased by the addition to the liquid of at least one member of the class consisting of nitrogen, a mixture of nutrient minerals, and a biological detergent.

Abstract: Pulp mill bleach plant caustic extraction effluent is decolorized using a primary or other sludge from a pulp and paper mill. The sludge is acidified and mixed with the effluent. After a short incubation period, the mixture of acidified sludge and effluent is raised to at least neutral pH, causing precipitation of most of the color in the effluent. The precipitated color may then easily be separated from the liquor by any conventional clarification technique. The method avoids the consumption of large quantities of expensive reagents or high transportation costs associated with the prior art decolorization techniques used on such effluent.